CarComplaints.com Notes: You're going to burn through a lot of dinosaurs while chugging around town, and any rear passengers you may have to carry are going to feel real cramped, but at the end of the day this is a solid truck.
I have owned 5 Toyota’s and 1 scion. Been a loyal customer since 1996. I bought my 04 tundra brand new. I drove it back and forth from Pittsburgh pa to los angels ca. 3 times. Used it for work from till 2010. I put 100,000 miles on it by then. Gas prices parked it for the next 5 years using it winters and for jobs only a truck could accomplish. It was maintained impeccably. Frequent oil changes and PM. In 2008 at the time of the frame recall my mechanic looked at the frame and told me there was some rust but not enough for you guys to replace the frame. Since 2010 i put a additional 16.000 miles on the truck. I took it in in 2016 for inspection. My new mechanic said there was a crack in the frame that would prevent him from passing it. No one would touch it. The crack was on top of the engine mount, making it difficult to fix. I parked it for 2 years. I went to trade it in and was informed that the radiator mount on one side was gone. The upper control arm was completely rotted off and hanging. There were several holes in the bed. The wiring harness has rotted so bad the engine will start but there is a bad ground going from the starter to power to the instruments. I don’t want to junk it cause i can only get $250 to $300 bucks and it is worth more than that. Help!!!.
Had the frame checked in 2015 for rust holes by dealership, no holes found so they sprayed under coating on it to slow down the rusting. Four years later there are approximately 4-6" holes in the frame. I believe the under coating made it worst. Toyota Corp or the dealership will not do anything.
2004 Tundra runs like a champ. Not a speck of body rust. VA inspection failed due to excessive frame rust. I never received notice of the class action suit. No formal recall. Dealer says your out of luck. Is there anything I can do to save my truck without paying thousands of dollars?
I recently took my truck into Tarbox Toyota in Rhode Island for a state required inspection. I purchased my Tundra new from the dealership in 2004. The truck failed the inspection. A major defect was rust related holes in the frame. When the Tarbox dealership installed a rust preventing undercoating 2-1/2 years ago, I asked and was informed that there were no holes in the frame. As you can tell by the attached pictures, the frame has substantial rust and a hole in the same areas experienced by other 2004 Tundra owners.
It is also obvious by the pictures that the undercoating installed to prevent further rust damage failed and peeled off--and in fact covered up existing rust areas--rather than provide protection against future rust damage and it most likely caused accelerated deterioration of the frame. I was informed by the dealership that Toyota would not do anything to address the rust damage on my truck--or take responsibility for enhancing the rust damage caused by improperly coating the frame over existing rust. The service department advised to "lease a new vehicle." Toyota Corporate affirmed that they will not provide any assistance. I filed a complaint with the NHTSA and will be researching legal options.
Let this complaint serve as a warning to any potential purchasers of Toyota Trucks to check for frame rust or damaged frames which are masked by Toyota's improper installation of rust prevention undercoating.
- Richard A.,
East Greenwich, US
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1 in. hole and crack in rear cross member because of rust
Toyota treated frame 3 times, but they really only did it once. No scraping of loose metal at all. Now there is a hole in the rear cross member and when I stuck my finger in, I felt a lot of loose metal. Toyota called today and said they won't do anything else for me. I told them that If I buy a boat and hook it to my hitch and if the boat broke loose and killed someone, it would be on them. She said no it wouldn't because I didn't tell you it was safe to drive. I said NO ONE TOLD ME IT WASN"T SAFE TO DRIVE. I called toyota a bunch of f*cking crooks and I was going to call a lawyer. She said I was welcome to do that and I yelled F*CK YOU, F*CK YOU, YOU BUNCH OF F*CKING BASTARDS......
Bought the truck at Acadia Toyota as a used vehicle, I was told it had been inspected and it passed. About a year later I go under the truck to fix a lose ball joint and notice a hole in the frame,I called up Acadia Toyota, they took pictures and said they would be sent off to head office. In approximately 10 days I was told they are not going to do anything about it, it's my problem.
I have heard of other people who have had there frames replaced but why not mine- I do not understand their logic.The frame is rusted in several places and they sold me the truck. Needless to say I won't be buying another vehicle there or recommend them to anyone I know.Thanks for letting me vent.
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I have owned 5 Toyota’s and 1 scion. Been a loyal customer since 1996. I bought my 04 tundra brand new. I drove it back and forth from Pittsburgh pa to los angels ca. 3 times. Used it for work from till 2010. I put 100,000 miles on it by then. Gas prices parked it for the next 5 years using it winters and for jobs only a truck could accomplish. It was maintained impeccably. Frequent oil changes and PM. In 2008 at the time of the frame recall my mechanic looked at the frame and told me there was some rust but not enough for you guys to replace the frame. Since 2010 i put a additional 16.000 miles on the truck. I took it in in 2016 for inspection. My new mechanic said there was a crack in the frame that would prevent him from passing it. No one would touch it. The crack was on top of the engine mount, making it difficult to fix. I parked it for 2 years. I went to trade it in and was informed that the radiator mount on one side was gone. The upper control arm was completely rotted off and hanging. There were several holes in the bed. The wiring harness has rotted so bad the engine will start but there is a bad ground going from the starter to power to the instruments. I don’t want to junk it cause i can only get $250 to $300 bucks and it is worth more than that. Help!!!.
- Andrew S., Pittsburgh, US